The Market Place Theatre deep in the heart of the 'Ancient Cathedral City' of Armagh, played host to the 99th Annual Northern Ireland Band Association All Ireland (NIBA) Championships last weekend.
Supportive
Throughout the day 19 bands from both North and South of the border competed in six different sections, with each performance played before a welcome audience of fellow competitors and brass band fans — and making for a wonderfully supportive audience.
The day concluded with the Championship Section where bands tackled Kenneth Downie's 'Music for the Common Man'. Adjudicator Steve Sykes announced to the audience that only a point split the top two contenders and if possible it would have only been half a point.
Laganvale victory
It was Laganvale Metal Technology under Stephen Crooks that eventually claimed the honours, their first win at the event since 2013, as well as the prize for 'Best Overall Performance'.
Based in South Belfast, they have welcomed a number of talented youngsters into the fold over the past 18 months, and with a good mixture of youth and experience they have continued to build in confidence and performance.
The talented Hannah Copes of third placed Downshire Brass was awarded the Best Instrumentalist prize.
European bound
The band will now represent Northern Ireland at the 2018 European Challenge Section Championship in Utrecht.
In the other sections there were victories for Drogheda Brass, Wellington Memorial Silver, Dynamic Brass, Stedfast Shoes Brass and 1st Old Boys' Silver Junior Band.
Based in South Belfast, they have welcomed a number of talented youngsters into the fold over the past 18 months, and with a good mixture of youth and experience they have continued to build in confidence and performance4BR
Results
Championship Brass:
Adjudicator: Steve Sykes
1. Laganvale Metal Technology Band — 191
2. 1st Old Boys — 190
3. Downshire Brass — 188
4. Third Carrickfergus — 187
5. Three Rivers Brass — 186
Best Instrumentalist: (Hannah Copes) Downshire Brass
Best Overall Performance of the Day: Laganvale
Second Grade Brass:
1. Drogheda Brass 182
2. Roughan Silver 181
3. Lourdes Brass 180
4. CWA Brass 178
5. Comber Silver 177
Best Cornet Section: Drogheda Brass
Best Bass Section: Roughan Silver
Third Grade Brass:
1. Wellington Memorial Silver — 177
2. Dungannon Silver — 175
Fourth Grade Brass:
1. Dynamic Brass — 175
2. Warrenpoint Silver — 172
3. Poyntzpass Silver — 171
Fifth/Unaffiliated Grade Brass:
1 Stedfast Shoes Brass — 176
2 1st Larne Old Boys — 175
Youth Brass:
1. 1st Old Boys' Silver Junior Band — 177
2. Laganvale (Metal Technology) Youth Band — 175
